Bring unheard voices

from history to stage

I create works that rooted in real historical events and Chinese cultural memories, seek to transform individual voices into a collective force for reflection and change.

Black and white portrait of a young woman smiling, with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a sweater that falls off one shoulder, standing against a plain background.

About

Yuchen Ye (she/her) is a Chinese-born, New York–based interdisciplinary theatre-maker. Her theatre practice is rooted in real historical events and Chinese cultural memory, integrating oral histories, documentary materials, and archival research to bring unheard stories from history to the stage. Through this practice, she seeks to transform individual voices into a collective force for reflection and change.

She is a recipient of the Contemporary Performance Award from Big Art Group and an alumna of Directors Lab North(Toronto, Canada). Her work has been presented across China, the U.K., and the U.S., including Action (New York, NY), iHuman (Cambridge, U.K.), and Mr. Satie in Paper, Man Tiger (Shanghai, China). MFA, Sarah Lawrence College; BA, Shanghai Theatre Academy. 

Upcoming

Action开拍

LimeFest @ The Tank(New York, NY), August 22 7pm

Cannonball Festival @ Asian Arts Initiative Black Box Theatre(Philadelphia, PA), September 22-26

A clapperboard and a graffiti-style sign reading 'ACTION #'.

Portfolio

A woman dressed in a suit with arms outstretched standing on two chairs in a dark theater or performance space with stage lights overhead and an exit sign glowing red in the background.

Director, Playwright, Performer

Action 开拍

New York, NY (2026)

Two women are on a stage surrounded by fallen autumn leaves. One woman, kneeling with eyes closed, is holding a bouquet of leaves. The other woman, in a white dress, is kneeling beside her, looking at her with a gentle expression. The background is dark with a tree branch visible, suggesting an outdoor or forest setting.

Director

The Monument 纪念碑

Shanghai, China (2022)

A woman standing on stage, pointing upward with her right hand, smiling, next to a hanging striped shirt, with colorful light patterns projected on a white curtain behind her.

Co-Director, Playwright

Lethe 忘川

Shanghai, China (2023)

Three women stand together against a beige background. The woman on the left has platinum blonde hair and is wearing a black outfit with a high collar and futuristic black visor glasses. The woman in the middle has long brown hair, wears a gray blazer over a black top, and has an attentive expression. The woman on the right has black hair styled in two braids, is wearing a gray dress with white ribbon accents, and is smiling softly.

Assistant Director, Playwright

Ihuman

Cambridge, UK (2024)

People wearing traditional masks participating in a performance or ceremony in a dimly lit environment.

Playwright, Producer, Performer

Man Tiger 人虎

Shanghai, China (2023)

Three women interacting at a newsstand with a sign that says 'Intelligent Public Talk' in Chinese. Two women are standing, one woman is behind the counter.

Director, Playwright

Farewell 告别

Shanghai, China (2023)

Six men walking on a dark stage toward bright yellow and red stage lights, with the men silhouetted against the lights.

Assistant Director, Performer

Wanderers Looking For Home 寻找归宿的流浪者

Shanghai, China (2023)

Three people are in a dark room with scattered clothes on the floor. One person is shirtless, crouching, and covering their face. The second person, in the center, is standing with their head tilted back, wearing a gray jacket, gray pants, and a purple head covering. The third person, on the right, is standing with their head tilted back and hands behind their head, dressed in a dark hoodie and pants.

Dancer, Performer

Ruins Garden 废墟花园

Shanghai, China (2023)

Children and adults watching a performance where two children are throwing paper into the air while dancing on a white sheet, with a piano and audience members capturing the moment.

Dancer, Performer

Mr. Satie in Paper 纸先生萨蒂

Shanghai&Suzhou&Changsha, China (2022-2023)

Contact